Ganga shines for Caricom Superstars

GEORGETOWN—Caricom Superstars beat the President’s XI by five wickets in the first of the two President’s Premier League Twenty20 matches on Friday evening at the Guyana National Stadium.
Their victory was orchestrated by a composed, unbeaten 39 from former West Indies opening batsman Daren Ganga and West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard, who snared four wickets. The Ramnaresh Sarwan-led President’s XI side mustered a paltry 95 for nine after winning the toss and taking first knock and in reply, the CARICOM Superstars finished on 96 for five off 16 overs.

Ganga arrived at the crease when his team precariously placed at 22 for four in the seventh over and proceeded to stroke three fours and a solitary six from his 39-ball knock. He featured in a cautious 29-run, fifth-wicket stand with Pollard who chipped in with 15. West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin (4), Lendl Simmons (4), Xavier Marshall (3), and Darren Bravo (0) fell in quick succession to give the President’s XI a sense of hope until Ganga’s arrival. Fast bowler Esuan Crandon, who instigated the early breakthroughs, finished with three for 10 from his allotted four overs.

Earlier, the President’s XI began their innings shakily as Chris Barnwell and his opening companion Sewnarine Chattergoon struggled to get the ball away against West Indies fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul. Chattergoon (3), who never suggested permanence, was LBW to skipper Dwayne Bravo while Barnwell went for eight. Assad Fudadin top scored with 40 from 45 balls with four fours and a six, to help give the innings some respectability.

Narsingh Deonarine was the only other batsman to reach double figures with 12 as skipper Sarwan, despite given a chance to bat again after he was run out on one, only added a mere one more run before he was comprehensively bowled by Rampaul. Pollard finished with four for 12 from his four overs while Rampaul ended with two for 15.

(CMC)